First a big props to ABX for not only making sure I was aware of this forum, but giving me an amazing amount of 'get started here' information that got me up and running on my Tea adventure.

About myself: I live in the beautiful city of Portland, Oregon. Although I grew up in Northern California (East Bay Area), Portland is really home.

For the past 9 years I ran an online magazine about movies called DVD Talk. I recently sold that magazine and reduced my working hours from 60hrs a week to 15 or 20. I'm now working as a freelance journalist and writing some fiction.

I am an avid reader, try to read a few hours a night (or when I can't fight off sleep any more), love music (almost always working to it), try to get on the mat for Yoga whenever I can (although It's been spotty lately).

I have three kids, ages 1,6 & 9. They keep me young and happy. Oh I'm 37, but often people say I look like I'm in my late 20's early 30's. Which is fine by me.

I've been a tea drinker forever, but the tea passion became more serious when I had to give up coffee a few years back. I live in Portland which has only fueled my tea addiction, discovered the Tao many years back and moved from bag tea to loose leaf. It was pretty much all addiction from there

I'm a very happy vegan. Again Portland is a great town for it.

I look forward to all the great tips, tricks and suggestions from all you here.

Hey all your Portland-ites. I posted a new topic in the "TeaMap" section of the forums asking for suggestions about an upcoming tea trip to Portland. I was going to post it here, but thought it would be better as a new topic.

Just letting you know - in case you missed it - so you could spread your knowledge of the area